Chronicles of the Modern Empress Dowager

Chapter 71: reunion

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He had to make up classes in his senior year of high school, so Li Jianbo went back to school again.

There was a rift with Li Mingguo's family because of Li Xia's matter, so Li Minghua decided not to go back so early this year.

"Are you going to set up a stall to sell Spring Festival couplets this year?"

Li Wei said: "I would like to, but my second brother is busy with studies this year. I'm afraid I won't be able to run this business by myself. My second brother also said he wouldn't let me go and asked me to review my homework at home."

When Li Jianping heard about it, he nodded and said: "That's right. You can help the family. It's been a bit cold these days, and I don't know if it will snow."

The place where they live is close to the south, and it gets cold every winter. After it rains, it becomes cold and wet, but snow rarely falls. Fortunately, Li Wei's housework has not been interrupted in the past two years, and his hands and feet have not suffered from frostbite.

It wasn't until Li Jianbo's junior year of high school took a break that the whole family packed up and prepared to return to Yongning.

New Year's goods have been bought in the city, and brothers Li Jianping and Li Jianbo went to the town to buy some firecrackers and fireworks, planning to wait until the New Year's Day to set them off.

Mother and daughter Liu Chunzhi and Li Wei were busy preparing for the New Year's Eve dinner. In the past few years, the two brothers always gathered together for a reunion dinner, but this year they even went to worship their ancestors separately.

Li Wei helped take care of the fire in the stove, while Liu Chunzhi was busy mixing seasonings and preparing chicken nuggets.

"Come here and I'll teach you two moves. Once you learn them, you'll be able to use them later."

"Oh, just come." Li Wei hurriedly washed her hands with hot water.

Liu Chunzhi gave a large basin to Li Wei and said: "Make the seasoning first, mix the seasoning soup thoroughly and then pour the vegetables. After the vegetables are put in, stir them repeatedly to make the taste even. Once the sugar and vinegar are put, there is no need to add MSG. It can also produce delicious food..." Liu Chunzhi planned to teach Li Wei two tricks. Li Wei also learned seriously. Under Liu Chunzhi's guidance, she mixed the chicken nuggets by her own hands.

Busy preparing for New Year's Eve dinner here. The father and son over there are discussing whether to expand their business in the coming year and who to plant the crops in the field. Li Minghua and Li Jianping talked with great interest, but Li Jianbo was very quiet and did not interrupt much.

Jian Ping pushed his younger brother and said, "Jian Bo, what's wrong with you today? You don't speak up much. You didn't have many opinions in the past, why are you so quiet today?"

Li Jianbo smiled: "I was listening to what you said, and I think what you said makes sense, and it's not easy to interrupt."

After talking about family matters, Li Minghua turned to care about Jian Bo's studies. Perhaps it was the first time that he cared about his youngest son's future.

"You will be taking the college entrance examination in a few months, right? Your grades have never worried us. If you take the exam well, we will wait for you to see if our family can turn around."

Listening to his father's words, Li Jianbo felt heavy in his heart. He nodded and said, "I will not let you down."

When the food was on the table, everyone sat around, and Li Minghua got some wine. Even Li Wei was not surprised when he poured wine into the wine glasses in front of everyone.

Li Minghua picked up the wine glass, and everyone clinked glasses together to bid farewell to the old year and think about the coming year. Regarding the coming year, Li Wei has only one wish. She hopes that her second brother can be named on the gold medal list and all her wishes will come true.

Li Wei just took a few symbolic sips before feeling choked in his throat.

Li Jianbo was unusually generous. After drinking the glass of wine, he immediately filled up the glass in front of his father and saluted his father: "Dad, I will drink with you. May your wishes come true, but the cigarette is You should smoke less and drink in moderation. Exceeding this amount is very harmful to your health. You are getting older, so we still need your care."

Li Minghua said cheerfully: "Jianbo rarely drinks with me, so I drank this one." Li Minghua drank it all happily.

Then Li Jianbo paid tribute to Liu Chunzhi and also talked a lot. Then he had another drink with Jianping. Li Wei watched from the side and felt strange in her heart. Her second brother's behavior seemed to be saying goodbye to his family, but there were still a few months until the college entrance examination. Finally, it was Li Wei's turn. Li Jianbo knew that his sister was not good at drinking, so he touched the half-full glass of wine in front of Li Wei with his cup, and said to her sincerely: "Wei Wei, I'm watching you grow up little by little. ,I am very happy."

After a round, Li Jianbo also drank a lot of wine, but his expression remained unchanged and his mind was very clear. He didn't look drunk at all. Li Minghua was overjoyed, patted Li Jianbo and said: "My son is capable, come on, Let’s have a good drink today.”

Li Jianbo did not delay, and drank one cup after another with Li Minghua.

The other three people were left looking at each other. Are the father and son getting drunk

The night was like ink, and warm lights came from the Li family's house. From time to time, a few words of laughter floated out, making people feel cozy and warm.

I bought two kilograms of liquor and when I came back, both father and son had finished it. The food on the table had been heated several times, and it was not until finally Li Minghua was lying on the table that Liu Chunzhi went to persuade Li Jianbo.

"Okay, don't make your dad drink. You drank a lot too. Go back to your room and sleep early."

Li Jianbo felt a little groggy, but his consciousness was very clear.

Listening to the roaring sound of firecrackers outside, Li Jianping said: "By the way, the firecrackers and fireworks I bought haven't had time to set off yet." So he opened the door to set off the firecrackers. Li Wei also came out and said, "I want to set off fireworks too."

Li Jianping lit a stick of incense for Li Wei and told her: "Stand back when you light the core, be careful not to blow you up."

Li smiled and said: "Brother, I don't need to explain it to me. I'm not a child."

Li Jianping placed the fireworks diagonally in the yard. Li Wei approached one with an incense stick and tried lighting it several times before igniting the core. Seeing the sparks coming out, she ran back quickly and accidentally bumped into one. She hit someone, and if that person hadn't pulled her up in time, Li Wei would have definitely fallen.

"Thank you, second brother." Li Wei raised his head. The night was hazy, and the expression on Li Jianbo's face was also shrouded in darkness.

The fireworks she lit shot up into the sky with a whoosh, and quickly bloomed above them, a yellow firework. Under the light of the fireworks, Li Wei glanced sideways at her second brother. Just as Li Jianbo turned around, their eyes met.

His eyes were also unclear, as if there was a hint of loneliness. The second brother has been leading her all these years, but she has never entered the inner world of the second brother. She was like a bystander to her second brother's joys and sorrows.

Li Jianping lit other fireworks, and when he was about to run over, he turned around and saw his brother and sister looking at each other. He was startled, and a strange thought came to his mind. This thought made him stand in another place. , and did not join in with the younger brothers and sisters.

(End of chapter)